Hamilton College vs. Olin College

Deciding between Hamilton College and Franklin W Olin College of Engineering? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Hamilton College
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hamilton College Clinton, NY
  • Olin College Needham, MA
  • Setting
  • Hamilton College Rural Fringe
  • Olin College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hamilton College 2,031
  • Olin College 405
  • Type
  • Hamilton College Private 4 Year
  • Olin College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hamilton College #26
  • Olin College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hamilton College -
  • Olin College -
  • Status
  • Hamilton College Non-profit
  • Olin College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hamilton College
  • Olin College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Room & Board
  • Hamilton College $17,510
  • Olin College $20,810
  • Average Net Price
  • Hamilton College $28,719
  • Olin College $43,184
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hamilton College $55,511
  • Olin College $43,290
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Olin College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hamilton College 8,531
  • Olin College 1,000
  • Admitted
  • Hamilton College 1,162
  • Olin College 252
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hamilton College 13.6%
  • Olin College 25.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Hamilton College 39%
  • Olin College 43.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hamilton College 1500
  • Olin College 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hamilton College 34
  • Olin College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hamilton College 3.87
  • Olin College 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hamilton College A
  • Olin College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hamilton College Elite
  • Olin College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hamilton College Very High
  • Olin College High
  • ACT Range
  • Hamilton College 33/35
  • Olin College
  • SAT Range
  • Hamilton College 1450/1550
  • Olin College 1493/1558
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hamilton College Test optional
  • Olin College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027
  • Olin College Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hamilton College 9:1
  • Olin College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hamilton College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Olin College
    • Engineering (100%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hamilton College 89%
  • Olin College 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hamilton College $79,000
  • Olin College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hamilton College 90%
  • Olin College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hamilton College $15,760
  • Olin College $14,710
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hamilton College $162
  • Olin College $152
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hamilton College 44%
  • Olin College 52%
  • % Women
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Olin College 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hamilton College Medium
  • Olin College High
  • HBCU
  • Hamilton College No
  • Olin College No
  • % White
  • Hamilton College 63%
  • Olin College 53%
  • % Asian
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • Olin College 16%
  • % Black
  • Hamilton College 5%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • Olin College 4%
  • % Native American
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hamilton College 3%
  • Olin College 7%
  • % International
  • Hamilton College 6%
  • Olin College 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hamilton College 8%
  • Olin College 11%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hamilton College 29%
  • Olin College 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hamilton College 62%
  • Olin College 71%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Olin College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Olin College Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Olin College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Hamilton College No
  • Olin College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Hamilton College Yes
  • Olin College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Hamilton College in Clinton, NY with Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hamilton College is larger than Olin College based on total student enrollment (2,031 students vs. 405 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hamilton College is located in Clinton, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is in Needham, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Hamilton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hamilton College 9:1; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 9:1.

Hamilton College vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hamilton College or Olin College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hamilton College than Olin College ($28,719 vs. $43,184).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hamilton College are 15.9% lower than at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($17,510 vs. $20,810).
  • Hamilton College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Olin College (about $2,562 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $66,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Hamilton College than at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (about $2,562 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $66,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering than at Hamilton College (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hamilton College students is 28.2% larger than aid received by Franklin W Olin College of Engineering students ($55,511 vs. $43,290).

Hamilton College vs. Olin College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hamilton College or Olin College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Olin College and Hamilton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (1530) is 30 points higher than at Hamilton College (1500).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hamilton College 1450/1550; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 1493/1558.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hamilton College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hamilton College - Test optional; Olin College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027; Olin College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Olin College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Hamilton College (3.87).
  • Olin College has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than Hamilton College (13.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Hamilton College vs. 43.7% at Olin College.

Hamilton College vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hamilton College and Olin College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Hamilton College's (89%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates have a $1,050 lower median loan debt than Hamilton College graduates ($14,710 vs. $15,760).
  • Among borrowers, Olin College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hamilton College graduates ($152 vs. $162).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.